India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh (center) poses with the army chiefs from the Asia-Pacific region during the inaugural session of the 13th Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs’ Conference (IPACC) in New Delhi on Sept 26, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)

This year’s Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference (IPACC), co-hosted by India and the US in New Delhi, is evidence of growing Indian involvement in regional affairs, according to observers.

The 13th IPACC was held in the Indian capital from Sept 25 and 27, along with the 47th Indo-Pacific Armies Management Seminar and the 9th Senior Enlisted Leaders Forum.

According to India’s Ministry of Defence, the central theme for this year’s event was “Together for Peace: Sustaining Peace and Stability in the Indo-Pacific Region”

The IPACC, instituted as a biennial event in 1999, was previously known as the Asia-Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference and the name change underscores India’s growing clout in the region, according to some experts.

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This year, 15 army chiefs and delegations from 22 countries attended the three-day event in New Delhi, according to India’s Vice-Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen M V Suchindra Kumar. 

“As we deliberate on the multifaceted challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, we are reminded that the Indo-Pacific is not just a geographical expanse, but a stage where nations unite to shape the narrative of our shared future,” Kumar was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India, or PTI, India’s largest news agency.

According to India’s Ministry of Defence, the central theme for this year’s event was “Together for Peace: Sustaining Peace and Stability in the Indo-Pacific Region.” 

“The Army Chiefs Conference will discuss issues of mutual interest and areas of cooperation to synergize efforts of all stakeholders for effecting peace and stability in the region,” the ministry said in a statement published on the government’s website.

The event is aimed at providing army chiefs and senior-level leaders from armed forces, predominantly from the Indo-Pacific region, to exchange views and ideas on security and other contemporary issues, according to the ministry. 

“The core effort of the forum will be to promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region through mutual understanding, dialogue, and friendship amongst the littoral partners,” the ministry statement said.

Canada's Deputy Army Chief, Major General Peter Scott was in attendance in India, despite the current diplomatic standoff between the two countries

In an address to the IPACC on Sept 26, India’s Chief of Army Staff Gen Manoj Pande said, "We are aiming to build trust and strengthen cooperation," as also reported by PTI.

"While efforts by countries are converging towards a free Indo-Pacific, yet we are witnessing manifestations of interstate contestations and competitions," Pande was quoted as saying by PTI.

“Challenges we face transcend across borders and our response to them must factor in this," he added.

Some experts said the conference was nothing out of the ordinary.

“These are not new initiatives but regular events where issues impinging upon the Indo-Pacific region are being discussed and strategies evolved for attaining peace, stability, relief and humanitarian measures during disasters and non-traditional security issues in the region,” said Karori Singh, former director and emeritus fellow of the South Asia Studies Centre at India's University of Rajasthan.

However, others argue that the forum shows India’s role in the region is increasing and it is keen to establish its influence.

India appears more conspicuous in its involvement in the region, despite the pronounced aim of the conference to “build trust, understanding, and cooperation among land forces in the region”, according to an Indian official, who declined to be named.

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Through such engagements, it is clear that India is keen to establish itself as an influential player, the official said.

Meanwhile, US Army Chief of Staff General Randy George has gone on record saying the partnership between the US and Indian armies is crucial for stability in the Indo-Pacific.

Notably, Canada's Deputy Army Chief, Major General Peter Scott was in attendance in India, despite the current diplomatic standoff between the two countries.

Arunava Das is a freelancer for China Daily.

Contact the writers at vivienxu@chinadailyapac.com